The One-Tail Shukaku's strange behavior naturally caught the attention of everyone present.
In a concealed residence nearby, a young red-haired man watched the situation through the Sand Eye. His expression tightened, and he murmured,
"Just who is that person... to make Shukaku hate him so much!?"
Just then, he frowned and exclaimed in surprise,
"This is bad! Shukaku is trying to leave the battlefield right now. Bunpuku's consciousness has been completely suppressed!"
As his words fell, Shukaku's face twisted into an almost human expression of fury. Its brow lifted, its mouth stretched into a savage grin, and its eyes locked onto a spot in the distance.
It had no time to bother with Orochimaru or Manda. Its bulky body slowly crouched, the muscles in its hind legs tensing as its enormous tail pressed close against its body.
Just then,
Orochimaru ordered Manda to attack. Under the force of Manda's terrifying charge, Shukaku was struck before it could leap.
"Boom!"
The violent impact reverberated across the battlefield. Shukaku's claws clamped onto Manda's head as its massive body slid backward.
The two were locked in a stalemate.
"You bastards! How dare you interrupt me at a time like this!!"
Shukaku had been stopped mid-leap. Its face contorted with rage as it glared at Manda and snarled.
Manda ignored it, using its massive body to restrain Shukaku's every movement as best it could.
Even as it coiled around Shukaku, Manda's enormous body trembled violently.
"Orochimaru, I've done what you asked. You'll have to handle the rest yourself. Don't forget my two hundred corpses!"
Manda stared up at Orochimaru with its slit pupils and spoke in a low, raspy voice.
Having gained enough time, Orochimaru rushed toward the top of Shukaku's head without changing his expression.
The moment his foot touched Shukaku's head, Manda—still